Vehicle-wheel and rim therefor.



J. H. WAGENHORST VEHICLE WHEEL AND RIM THEREFOR.

, APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1915.

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEETI 5 fir 1149 13 F I Gr. 1.

J. H. WAGENHORST. I v VEHICLE WHEEL AND mm THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED IULYZO. I915- 1,201,120. Patented I Oct. 10, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. H WAGENHURST.

VEHICLE WHEEL AND RIM THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1915,

1,201,-120. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- E J. H. W'AGENHDRSTJ VEHICLE WHEEL AND RIM' THEREFOR;

AFLICATION FILED JULY 20 19I5 Patented Oct. 10,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 F 1&20.

F|e 2z v FlGn23.

UNITED STATES PATENT a oFmoE.

JAMES H. WAGENHORST, F AKRON, OHIO, AS SIGNOItOF ONE-FIFTH TO THE UNITED RIM COMPANY, A CORPORATION OI OHIO, TWO-FIFTHS TO THE B. F. GOODRICH' COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, 1v. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK, ONE-FIFTH 'ro THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, or AKRON, 01110, A CORPORATION or 01x10,

AND ONE-FIFTH .TO THE UNITED STATE CORPORATION'OF NEW YORK.-

S TIRE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

VEHICLE-WHEEL AND RIM THEREFOR.

1,201,120. priginal application filed June 10, 1912,

Todll who-m may concern. i Be it knownthat I, JAM I-1s H; WAGEN- HORST, a citizen of the Umted states, re-

siding at Akron, county of Summit, and

State of Ohio, have invented certain new; and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels and Rims Therefonof which the following. is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels, and particularly to improvements in the means for securing pneumatic or other resilient tires thereto, being more particularly directed to improvements in the structure of tire-carrying rims.

.-It has heretofore 'been common practice to provide vehicle wheels with removable rims for carrying pneumatic or other resilient tires, the rims being removably seremoved and replaced by another rim procured upon the wheels so as to permit a rim with a tire mounted thereon to be readily vided with" a tire. Such structures are known as demountable rims, whose tirecarrying element, will be hereinafter desig-' nated as the removable rim for purpose of distinction betweenlit and the circular rim of the wheel, in which the outer ends of the spokes are inserted, and which is sometimes termed fixed rim, andwill be hereinafter so designated in accordance with the requirement of the Patent Office. They are particularly advantageous when used with pneumatic tires, as a removable rim with a ready-inflated tire thereon maybe substituted for anotl1er rimrcarrying a damaged tire, quickly and with little labor. The delays incident to changing a pneumatic tire upon a removable rim and to inflation of the tire. are thus eliminated. Removable rims, as heretofore, constructed, have gen-- erally been secured upon wheels by means of bolts", wedges, or other attaching devices, though in some cases a transversely split removable rim has been used which has been contracted upon the wheel-felly either by the pressure of the air in the tire or by some contracting device, the removable rim being thus clamped in position. Such contractible rims have operated satisfactorily in some cases, though difficulty has notinfrequently been experienced owing to the contraction of the removable rim causing the same to Specificationof Letters Patent. I

SeriaI'NO. 702,852. Divided-and this application filed July 20, 1915. Serial No. 40,831.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

in case the beads stick to the rim.

By means of my present invention I eliminate the Wedges, .bolts and other clamping devices for securlng the removable rim upon the wheel, and also avoid the use of a trans-.

versely split extensible'and contractible tire-L carrying removable rim, but at the same tlme provide means for removably securing a removable rim upon a wheel felly quicklydraw unequally upon thebeads of the tire and firmly. I accomplish this result by 1 panded and contracted easily and without danger of racking the "wheel as in the case of the ordinary wooden artillery wheel.

The nature of my improvements in removable rims willfully appear from the following detaileddescription:

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevationof a vehicle wheel carrying a removable rim with a tire mounted thereon and illustrating one embodiment of my invventlon; Flg. 2 1s a transversesectlon taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig l is atransverse section through a portion of the tire-carrying or removable rim removed from the wheel, the removable IIIH flanges being reversed to engage-a straight-sided tireaFig] his a side elevation of a portion of the fixed rim, the removable rim and base of the tire, shown in Fig. 1, the endsof the fixed rim being shown drawn together to' contract the fixed rim; Fig. .6 is a side elevation of anotherportionof the fixed rim, theremovable rim, and base ofthe tire, apor-' .tion of the removable rimbeing brokenaway to show the locking lugs formed at the tends of the removable flange of the remov-v able rim, the dust cap being shown in section; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of a removable rim with the tire removed, the

transversely split removable flange being shown in circumferential section, in the pcsition which it occupies preparatory to being locked to the base .of' the removable rim,

this figure also illustrating 'the tool used.

for moving the ends of the flange into locking position; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig.

7, the transversely split tire-retaining flange being removed, its lugs being shown in section in locked'position in the slots .formed in the removable rim. The end of the tool is shown inserted between the lugs preparatory to unlocking the lugs from their slots; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of a fixed rim, the removable rim, and tire illustrating a modified form of bolt for expanding and contracting the fixed rim, a portion 1 of the removable rim being broken away;

' with a tire thereon embodying a modified removable rim,

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale of the transversely split removable tire-retaining flange and of a fragment of form ofmy invention; Fig. 13.is a transverse section through the base of thetire, and fixed rim on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12 Fig. 14 is a circumferential section through the parts shown in Fig. 13 on line XIV-XIV of that figure;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13, the sec-- tion being on line XVX V of Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a plan view of a portion of the fixed rim of the wheel shown in Fig. 12, the tirecarrying removable rim and tire being removed and the wedges being forced into expand the fixed rim; Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 with the wedges drawn out to'permit the fixed rim to contract; Fig. 18 is'a perspective view of the two wedges removed from the fixed rim; Fig. 19 is a circumferential section through a tire-carrying or re movable rim and the fixed rim of a wheel illustrating a modified means for expanding and contracting the, fixed rim; Fig. 20 is a transverse section on line XXXX of Fig.

19, the removable rim and tire'being re-.' 'moved; Fig. 21 is a view showing a portion of the base of the removable rim in section and showing the ends of the transversely split locking ring in side elevation, this figure illustrating in section a modified form .of dust cap for inclosing the locking lugs; Fig. 22 is a transverse. section on line XXII-X-XII of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 21 showing the dust, cap

screwed away from the under-surface of the fixed rim sufficiently to permit it to be row tated'away from the lockinglugs, such to tated position being indicated in dotted lines; F ig. 24 is a view smilar to Fig. 21, illustrating a modified form of dust cap; Fig. 25 is a view of the under-side of a por tion of the structure shown in Fig. 24, the dust cap and its supporting stud being shown in section; Fig. 2.6 is'a view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 1, the dust cap being screwed away from the under-surface of the fixed rim, to permit access to the. lock ng I lugs.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and

particularly to Figs. -1'to .8 and 10 and 11,.

the numeral 1 designates a vehicle wheel having a hub 2, fixed rim 3 and spokes 4. As shown in the drawings, the spokes are of wire, the fixed rim comprising a rolled metallic channel having legs 5' and 6 of unequal height. I do not wish to limit my invention exclusively to wheels of this construction, however, although certain features of my invention. are best adapted to use in (101111301 tion with wire wheels. The fixed rim 3 is transversely split at the point 7 a lug 8 being provided near each end thereof. Said lugs 8 are adapted to be engaged by the means for expanding and contracting'the 1 fixed rim, said means in the form of my-1n-' vention shown in Figs. '1, 2'and 3 comprlsing the right andleft screw or turn-buckle 9, the ends of which screw through properly threa ded holes in the lugs '8, the screw being provided with a central hexagonal head 10 by which the same may be rotated to expand T and contract the fixed rim. The means for contracting and expanding the 'fixed rim may, however, be varied as maybe found desirable; for example, the structure shown in Fig. 9. may be used, in which the screw hasa head 11 at one end in place of the central head 10 shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The location of the screw-head at the end of the screw permits the application of a ratchet wrench thereto. In the construction shown in Fig. 9 onepart of the 'sorew12 is made of greater diameter than the oppositely. threaded portion 13, thus permitting the parts to be easily assembled. It is obvious that the expanding and contracting means can be modified in many other ways. 14 is the tirecarrying .or removable rim, which may be of any suitable construction, either splitior endless, but it preferably comprises the endless rim base 15 having the seats 16 and 17 of different heights, adapted to seat'on the bearingsurfaces of difl'erent heights formed by the edges of/the legs 5 and 6 of the channel-shaped fixed rim. The under-surface of the rim base may seat directly upon the leg p 5 if desired, but I prefer to form the slightly projecting seat 16 by rolling a shallow do: pressionin the rim base, as the removable rim will free itself from the leg 5 more easily upon a-slight lateral movement of the reill movable rim if such a seat be provided. In

removable rims having a depressed channel at one edge thereof for the reception of a removable tire-retaining flange, as in the form herein illustrated, the seat 17 may be advantageously formed by oflsettingthe in ner wall of this channel. as shown. The portion 18 of the channel wallenigagcs the side of the lee; l) and serves to limifllateralmovement of the removable .rim u aon thewheel and thus insures a proper alinement'of' the removable rim and fixed rim when the parts are assembled. lit is to be understood that by making the legs 5 and 6 of the channel of different heights, the fixed rim is provided at its edges with bearing surfaces of different diameters upon which seat the bearing surfaces of corresponding diameters of the re-- nmvable rim. The provision of bearinp; sur fiices of different diameters is most in'iportaut. as it permits the free application and removal of the removable rim with the minimiun of clearance between the removable rim and lined rim. The valve stem may be buttonholed through its opening in the fined rim and the removable rim sated in position thereon or removed therefrom with only a fraction of the clearance essential to permit a removable rim to be similarly applied to a tlat fined rim. This of the greatest advantatre. as it necessionly a very limited emoansion and contraction ofthe lined rim. As will be ob vious. a requirement of any large expair sion or contraction to effect the desired result would be nfohibitive as the wheel structure does not permit of extended variation in size. The removable rim base is provided at one side wlth the channel 19 for mom ving the base 20 of the transversely split remov' able tire-retaining flange 21. The outer-wall of this channel is preferably bent inward to form an overhanging hook-shaped flange, which engages the base 20 of the tire-retainins: flange, the base being formed of dovetail cross section as shown. in order to inter lock with the hooked outer wall 22. In removable rims of this class as heretofore con structed. the outer wall of the channel has been vertical, and the side walls of the base of the tire-retainingflange have also been vertical. The present structure is a decided improvement over the former practice, as by bending the outer wall of the channel inward and interlocking it with the base of the tire-retaining flange, the tire-retaining flange is reinforced and strengthened by the wall of the channel, and both it and the channel wall may be made of lighter con struction than is found necessary where I these parts do not interlock. A materialsavinn; inweight is thus efi'ected. Thisis a very nnportant result, as excessive weight has been one of the princlpal ob ections to rea which. will now be described of the flange 21 are undercut, so that the flange is reversible, itbemg shown 1n engagement with a. clencher tire in Figs. 2 and 3, and in engagement with a. straight sided tire in llieq. at. The side of the flange 21 formed for engagement with a straightsided tire, has an annular bearing surface 23 of COIIYBX section, which engages a side of the tire as shown in l ip at, the flange being; provided with a groove 2% below its -ci'lrved bearirm surface, in order to reduce the w iirl'it of the flange.- For retaining: the tire at'the opposite side of the removable rin'i. the'latter i'uay be provided with an integral tire-retaining: flanpfe. but is preferablyprovided with a. low. inwardly hooked flange :25 which engages with an, endless rnmm'able and revers ble tireretaining flange '26. N

l or seciiirina' the transversely split removable tire-r... ininpr i'lanpge 2i. in its channel ill at the side of the removable rim base, T have di'ivised in'iproved lOCl lI1P means Tn accordance with my improvement. the ends of the flange are provided with hirgs Eli and 28, which are preferably similarly l lach of these lun's has a. body part 29 and an extension 30. the extensions of the two lugs approaching each other. The back of each lung has a i'iotch. 31 formed therein. The bottom of the channel 19 is provided with two slots 32 and 33 for the reception of these lungs. The slot'32 is of the same length as the body portions'29 of the lugs. but is made of somewhat greater width than the lugs. as shown in Fig. 8, so'as to permit the lu e therein to be moved late-rally sufficiently to free the undercut base portion 20 of the flange from the hooked wall 22 of the channel. The second slot 33 is made much wider than the slot 32 and is provided with a circumferentially offset p0rtion 34: of sullicient width to receive the body portion of oneof the lugs. "The operation of this structure is as-fo'llowsr It being desired to apply the split flange to the removable rim base. one of the lugs, for example 27. is inserted in the slot 32. this being accomplished by tilting the end of the flange at an angle to the removable rim base so as to permit the "extension 30 of the lug to be first passed through the slot 32. The base portion of the flange is then seated in the channel 19, the extension 30 of the lug 27 engaging beneath the portion of the bottom of the channel between the shaped. H

lug, permits the lug to be inserted and the flange bearing the lug to be moved laterally until the dovetail-shaped base of the flange engages beneath the hooked outer wall 22 of the channel. The base 20 of the flange is "then sprung into the channel all the way around the removable rim, beginning at the lug 27. The second lug 28 is then inserted in the offset portion 34:-

of the slot 33 as shown'in Fig. 7. The

flange is then drawn tightly about its seat,

and the lug 28 is forced laterally outward in the slot 33 until the rear wall of the body portion 29 of the lug 28 engages the wall 35 of the slot 33 as shown in Fig. 8. The flange is thuslocked tight upon its seat and held against expansion.

The drawing together of the ends of the flange and moving of the lug ,28 laterally in the slot 33, as above described, may beaccom'plished in any suitable manner, but preferably by means of a tool such as that illustrated in Fig. 7. This figure shows the tool applied to the lugs just preparatory to operating the same to contract the flange-upon its seat and move the lug 28 laterally into locked position. The tool shown comprises a lever 36 having an arm 37 terminating in a hook 38 which engages in the notch 31 formed in the lug 27, the notched portion of the lug projecting below the bottom of the 'channel'19 as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Pivoted to the lever 36 by means of a pivot 39 is an arm 40 terminating in a hook 41 which engages the notch 31 formed in the lug 28. It will be seen that by moving the lever36 the hook 41 will draw the lug 28 g toward the lug 27 thus tightening the flange upon its seat. and that when the lug 28 reaches the wide part of the slot 33 the tool will have a tendency to draw the lug outward until its" rear wallseats against the wall 35 of the slot 33 as shown in- Fig. 8. The application of the tool to the lugs in a' plane practically parallel to that of therims and thehooked formation of the ends of the tool arms make this lateral shifting of the lug in the slot possible.

Any suitable means may be used for preventlngthe lug 28 from slipping inward so as to loosen the flange. When the tire is inflated the air pressure will be ample for this purpose. As a matter of precaution,

however, the valve stem 42 may be located opposite to the split in the flange, the valve stem being provided with the usual clip 43 the shoulder 35.

in the usual manner and the end of the lever 36 or other suitable tool inserted between the ends of the extension portions 30 of the lugs 27 and 28, as shown in Fig. 8, and used to pry the lug 28 out of engagement with The flange is thus loosened, permitting the lug 28 to be lifted from the slot 33, when the flange may be removed in an obvious manner.

In order to cover the slots 2 and 33 and the lugs projecting therethro gh, I preferably provide a dust cap 4A which is removably secured in position in any suitable manner, for example, the dust cap may be mounted upona spring arm 45 which is pivoted to the bottom of the'channel por -VVith this construction it will be seen that the dust cap may be sprung away from the removable rim sufliciently to clear the projecting portions of the lugs, and may thus be swung about pivot 46 -as indicated in t Fig. 11, to expose the lugs and permit of their engagement by the operating tool.

' After the operating tool has been removed,

the dust cap may be swung back in position and sprung over the lugs, the engagement of the lugs with thewalls of the dust cap preventing its accidental lateral displacement. The side walls the dust cap or cover are preferably made to fit the lugs closely, so that the dust cover will prevent the lug 28 from moving laterally sufficiently to' enter the offset portion 34 of,the slot 33. It will be seen that although the dust cover is not rigidly connected to the removable rim, it will act in this manner as it fits the two lugs closely mcannot pivot thereon, and the lug 28 is capable of only a very limited, lateral movement in its slot. Thus, even if the dust cover shifts laterall with the lugs, the lug 28 can move no arther than the lug 27 and cannot become disenflange expressly for engagement with the.

operating tool, as has heretofore been found necessary. Such sockets are unsightly and have usually been made as small as possible, with the'result that theyar'e often unsatisfactory for the purposes for which they are "intended, and provide a very insecure engagement for the operating tool. They also fill up with dirt which must be cleaned out to permit the tool to be applied. The looking lugs, on the other hand, are necessarily amply large and strong and afiord excellent engagement for the tool. They also permit the tool to beused to draw one of them laterally in the wide slot 33, as above described.

It is to be noted that by making the lugs 27 and 28 identical in construction, either lug may be inserted in either of the slots 32 or 33, and the flange is made reversible.

While detachable flanges provided with lugs interlocking with slots in a removable rim have heretofore been used, such flanges have not been reversible. Also, it has not been possible in such removable rims to engage the operating tool directly with the lugs, but

special connections for the operating tool have been required. In IIlOllIltlIlg the tire-carrying removable rim upon the wheel with the, transversely 7 the fixed rim'as transversely split at two diametrically opposite points, but this is not split fixed rim as above described, the 'removable rim is preferably so located upon the fixed rim that the locking lugs, dust cover} and valve stem and clip are diametrically opposite to the expanding means for r the fixed rim. The weight of these parts is thus utihzed to counterbalance the weight of the ,expandlng means and a substantially balanced wheel is obtained.

In Fi s 12 to 18 I have illustrated a o a n I modified form of my invention 1n WlllCh.

wedges-are fused to expand the fixed rim. For purposesof' illustration I. have shown necessar as the wedges'may be used for expanding a' fixed rim split at one or a plurality of points, and the turn-buckle arrangement shown in Fig. 1 may be utilized with a fixed rim split in more than one pointif desired. The construction of the wedges for expanding the fixed rim is illustrated in detail in Figs. 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18.

i is the fixed rim transversely split at diarim and turn-buckle to force the ends apart.

metrically opposite points. The adjacent ends of the fixed rim are beveled in opposite directions'from the center, as indicated at 51 in -Figs.'16 and 17. Thefixed rim is preferably channelshaped as in the form of my invention previously described, it being provided with flanges 52 and 53 forming'the bearing surfaces of different diameters for the tire-carrying removable rim. For forc-' ing the ends ofthe fixed rim apart, I provide v a pair of wedges 54 which are adapted to be engaged with the'beveled ends of the fixed Each wedge 54 has converging wedging surfaces 55 which engage the'beveled ends of the fixed rim, these surfaces having projecting therefrom the parallel lugs 56 which engage the outer and inner surfaces of the bottom of the channel and thus serve to guide the wedges-and enable the wedges to lock the ends of the fixed rim in alinement so far as radial displacement is-concerned.

Each of the Wedges has a screw;threaded hole 57 therethrough, one of the wedges of each pair being provided with a right-hand thread, while the other has a left-hand thread therein. For drawing the wedges together, a right and left-hand screw 58 is 'used which extends transversely of the'fixed rim and is provided at one end with ahead 59 for the reception of a key or wrench.

The wedges held together with the right and left hand screw serve to hold the ends of the fixed rim against lateral displacement as well as against radial displacement but as additional means for assuring accurate alinement'of'the ends of the fixed rim and preventing any possibility of lateral displacement, I preferably attach to one end of the fixed rim a projecting tongue 60 which slidesin a guide-way formed upon the other end of the fixed rim in any suitable manner, as by attaching blocks 61 thereto between which the end of the tongue 60 slides. These parts are preferably secured inside the fixed rim c'hannel to the bottom thereof, so that they are concealed from view when the wheel is in use. The wedges drawn together with a screw form a very powerful means for-expanding the fixed rim and enable .the same to be expanded Within the tire-carrying removablerim with great force, thus insuring a tight clamping of the removable rim on the fixed rim. It is unnecessary to provide any special, means for contracting the fixed rim, as the spokes of the wheel are under high tension and diametrically' contract the fixed rim to an extent sufficient to permit the removable rimto be removed therefrom as soon as the wedges are with-- drawn sufliciently to permitsuch contraction. Fig. 17 shows the wedges thus withdrawn, while Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 16'show the wedges forced together and the fixed rim expanded. 62 represents the nipples into which the ends of the spokes 63 are screwed. As will be seen from Figs. 16 and 17, the spokes are-preferably so arranged that when the fixed rim is expanded they will beevenly spaced, the spokes a cent to thepoint wherethe fixed rim is split approaching each other somewhat when, the fixed rim is contracted as shown in Fig. 17 Fig. 12 shows a desirable arrangement of the expanding means for the fixed ri valve stem and. the locking means and dust"- cap forsecuring the ends of the transversely t split removable flange of the removable rim when a rim of such character is used. As i will be seen from this figure, these parts are evenly spaced about the periphery of the .wheel. The valve stem dust cap is indicated at 64, while 65 is the dust cap for inclosing the locking lugs on. the ends of the transversely split tire-retaining, flange. The two sets of wedges 5l-exactly balance each other, while the valve-stem and its associated parts approximately balance the locking lugs of of being permanent-1y secured upon a wheel,

as may be desired; In the form illustrated thetire-carrying removable rim comprises a rim-base 66 having a flange 67 at one edge thereof which engages the endless reversible.

tire-retaining flange 26. At the other side the rim base has a depressed channel 68 formed therein, this channel preferably having an inwardly hooked'outer wall 69. In this channel is received the base 20 of the transversely split tire-retaining flange 21 of the form already fully described. The bottom ofthe channel 68 is provided with the slots 32 and 33 for the reception of the lugs 27 and 28 formed upon the ends ofthe flange 21. The inner sidewall of the channel 68 preferably has an offset formed therein similar to theoffset formed in the wall of the channel of the rim base illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, the bottom wall 70 ofthis off-' w set forming a bearing surface adapted to engage the bearing surface formed by the lower flange 53 of the channel-shaped fixed rim The side wall of the channel need not, however, be Iiiade. to engage the side 71 in the under-surface of the rim base, this groove receiving the edge of the higher of the flange 53 if the construction shown and about to be described is used at the other side of the fixed rim. Such construction consists in forming a shallow groove :70. It will be seen that when the fixed rim is expanded an edge of the flange 52 will be received in the groove 71' and the removable rim thus effectually locked against lateral movement in either direction so long as the fixed rim remains expanded. The dust cap or cover for inclosing the locking lugs v t on the ends of the removable tire-retaining flange, instead of being mounted 'upon the end of a spring arm pivoted to the removable rim, as in the form of my invention previously described, is attached tothe removable rim by'means of a screw or bolt, so that it may be screwed toward or away from the under-surface of the removable rim. For this purpose a stud 72 is riveted to the bottom of the channel of the removable rim base, this stud carrying a screw-threaded boss 73 Wl11Cl1 rotates freely about the stud and is retained in position by a head ,7 4. The cover 65 has a solid piece 75 at. one end thereof "which has a screw-threaded opening therethrough and screws upon the boss 73. The rotation of the boss will cause the cover to move toward or awayfrom the removable rim. Vhen the cover is screwed away from the removable rim into the position shown in Fig. 23, its movement in that direction will be checked by reason of its engagement with the head 7 6 ofthe boss 73. The further rotation of the boss through a half revolution will' throw the cover into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

23, where it will be entirely out of the way of the lugs projecting through the slots in the removable rim and will permit a tool to 77 in order to completely close the slots in the removable rim. The recess in the dust cover is preferably made of the same width as the lugs, so ,that when the cover is screwed up it will closely engage the lugs,

as shown in Fig. 22. The cover will thus serve to prevent the lateral movement and possible disengagement of the lugs, and so acts as a lock for the lugs as well as simply to exclude dust or water from the lugs and slots. When the cover is constructed in this manner it is unnecessary to place a clip 1n the tire opposite the split in the flange, or to use any other lockingmeans for the flange, and this makes it possible to locate the valve stem opposite to the split in the flange and thus secure a better balancing of the wheel.

In Figs. 24, '25 and 26 I have. illustrated a modification of the form of dust cover above described. In this form of my inventlon the construction of the removable rim base with the slots therein. and the trans" versely' split removable tire-retaining flange provided with the lugs projecting through the slots is the same as that above described,- except that the distance between the slots is preferably made somewhat greater and the lugs are placed somewhat farther from the ends of the flange. 78 is the dust cover which is carried by means of a stud 79 riveted tothe rim. The stud 7 9 is externally threaded as indicated at 8 0, and'upon this threaded ortion of the stud screws a nut 81 having-a 'ead 82. The nut 81 is preferably externally threaded, as indicated at 83, and upon this externally threaded portion screws the dust cap which has a boss '84 located approximately midway of its length, this boss having a screw-threaded opening there" through. The thread on the stud 79 and the threadon the exterior of the nut 81 are of opposite pitches, so that when the nut is unscrewed along the stud the dust cap will simultaneously travel along the surface of the nut toward thehead thereof. The dust cap will thus have a rapid flight and but a few turns of the nut will be required to move the same from the position shown in Fig. 24 to that shown in Fig. 26. With the dust cover in the position shown in Fig. 26,

a tool may be applied to the lugs as indicated in Fig. 7. In order to disengage the lug 28, a tool may be used as indicated in Fig.8, except that the end of the tool will be inserted between the end of the lug and the stud 79,- The dust cover. is preferably madefof a width to fit the lugs closely, as indicated in Fig. 25, for the purpose of locking the lugs against lateral displacement, as described above. The dust cover is preferably provided with a flange 85 to v completely closethe slots in the Tim.

In Figs. 19 and 20 I have illustrated a. modified means for connecting the ends of the split fixed rim and effecting the expansion and contraction of the latter. In these figures 86 is the fixed rim, which is preferably of channel-shape, as shown in Fig. 20.

The bottom of the channel is notched at the side of the split therein, as shown at 87 in Fig. 19. Secured to each end of the fixed rim is a lug 88 which preferably has an extension 89 welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the inside of the bottom of the ,channel where it will be out of sight and in alinement with these recesses 91. A right and left screw or turnbuckle is used to connect the lugs, such turn-buckle comprising the threaded portions. 93, which screw through the threaded openings through the.

Y lugs, the cylindrical portions 94 which slide in the recesses 91 and the central head or faceted portion95 shaped to be engaged by;

a wrench or other suitable means for turn-. ing the same. The cylindrical portions .94:

sliding in the recesses in the lugs serve to maintain the ends of the fixed rim in accurate alinement. In other respects the operation of this turn-buckle is the same as that of the structure illustrated inFigsZ 1, 2 and 5. As will be understood, if desired the fixed rim may be divided at two or more points as indicated in Fig. 12;a corresponding number of the turn-buckles being used.

While I have illustrated in the drawings and described in detail certain specific en1. bodiments of my. invention, such specific embodiments are intended to. be merely illustrative of the many' forms which my invention may take, and I do not desireto be limited. t9 the details 1 shown and described any further than as specified in some of "the more limited claims hereunto appended. 'As will be understood, certain features of my invention may be used without others, and I have therefore included claims for these individual features by themselves. All of the features of the invention, however, when embodied in a single structure cooperate to produce a superior vehicle wheel construction, in which the tire-carrying removable rim, and in which such removable rim is capable of being ap plied to or. removed from thewheel.

This application is a division of my pending application filed June 10, 1912, Se-: rial No. 702,852. l

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

.1. A tire-carrying rim for a resilient tire adapted to seat upon a fixed rim, said tirecarrying rim having a channel formed atw.

one side thereof, the inner wall of said channel being offset.

. 2. A. tire-carrying rim for a resilient tire adapted to be mounted upon a fixed rim, said tire-carrying rim having a channel formed at one side thereof, the inner wall of said channel having a substantially rightangled offset formed therein, the horizontal wall of said ofiset constituting a bearing ioa surface adapted to seat upon said fixed rim,

ing rim comprising a rim base having a flange at one side thereof, an endlessreversible tire-retaining flange seated on said rim base and engaging said flange on the rim base, said rim base having an annular groove rolled therein near the side carrying said flange, the bottom of the groove of the rim forming a bearing surface, said rim base having a channel rolled therein at the oppo site side thereof, the inner wall of said chanformin the other bearing surface, the outer wall 0 the channel in said rim base being 'nel having an offset thereon, the said offset" inwardly hooked, the bottom of said channel being slotted, and a transversely split reversible tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel, said flange having a dove-tailshaped base adapted to interlock with the inwardly hooked outer wall of said channel and having lugs at the ends thereof projecting thrbugh the slots in the bottom of the channel.

l. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base, means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, a depressed channel formed at the other side of said rim base, the inner wall of said channel being stepped and the outer wall being inwardly hooked.

5. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, said rim base having a channel formed therein at the other side thereof, the outer wall of said channel being inwardly hooked or undercut, a reversible transversely split tire-retaining flange, said flange having a dovetail-shaped base mounted in said channel and adapted to interlock beneath the outer wall of said channel when the flange is placed in either position in'said channel, and means for look ing the ends of said transversely split flange, said means comprising lugs extending through saidchannel.

6. A tire-carrying mm for resilient tires ing surface of said rim base, said wall being, inwardly hooked, a transversely split re-.

versible tire-retaining flange having a dovetail-shaped base mounted in said channel, said base adapted to interlock beneath said inwardly hooked wall when said. flange is mounted in either position in said channel,

and means for locking the ends of said trans versely split flange.

7 A tire-carrying nm for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means atone slde thereof for retalnmg a t1re, and having at the other side thereof a channel, the bot-.

tom of the channel being, slotted, and a transversely split the retaining flange mounted'in said channel, lugs at the ends of said flange projecting through the slots in the bottom of the said channel and interlocking with the walls of said'slots, the projecting ends of said lugs being formed for engagement with an operating tool adapted to force said lugs into interlocked position.

8.'A tire-carrying rim forresilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and a channel formed at the other side thereof, the bot-,

tom ofsaid channel being slotted, and a transversely split tire retaining flange mounted in said channeljand provided atits ends with lugs. projecting through the slotted bottom in said channel, and a dust cap movably secured to said rim base and adapted to be moved into or out of a position covering saidlugs, whereby when said dust cap is moved out of such position, said lugs are exposed, said lugs being formed for engagement with a tool adapted to operate said flange. I I

9. A tire-carrying rimfor resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and having a channel formed at the other side thereof,

the bottom of said channel having slots therein, one'of which is provided with a circumferentially ofl'set portion of less width than the main portion thereof, and a trans- .versely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel and providedwith lugs atits ends for engagement with said slots, portions of said lugs projecting through said slots and adapted to interlock beneath the bottom ofsaid channel, the end walls of the projecting portionsof said lugs being notched to receive a tool'for drawing one of said lugs out of the offset portion of the slot and interlocking the same with the end wall of the main portion of said slot.

10. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and having a channel formed at the other sidethereof, the 'bottom of said channel being provided with a rectangular slot and'a slot have a ing a Wide portion and a longitudinally offset portion and a shoulder 35, and a transversely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel and having lugs at the ends thereof, each of said lugs having a body portion adapted to fit one of said slots, and an extensionend adapted to interlock beneath the portion of the bottom of the channellsepa arating said slots.

11. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and hav'-" ing a channel formed at the other side thereof, the-bottom of said channel being provided with a rectangular slot and a slot having a wide portion and a longitudinally offset portion and a shoulder 35, and a transiversely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel and having lugs at the ends thereof, one of said lugs having a bodyportion of the same'length as that of the ree tangular slot, and having a portion projecting through said slot, one end of said portion extending under and interlocking be-:

math the portion of the channel bottom be-- a tween said slots, the other end of said projecting portion being notched to receive a tool, the second lug having a portion adapted to fit between the shoulder 35 and the end of the second slot nearest the rectangular slot, said lug having a portion projecting through said slot, the end of said portion projecting under and interlocking beneath the portion of said channel bottom separating said slots, the other end of said pro- .jecting portion being notched to receive a part of the tool.

12. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire and having a channel at the other side thereof, the bottom of said channel being slotted, and a transversely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel and having a clencher groove formed in one side thereof, the other side of said flange being formed for engagement with a straight-sided tire, said flange being reversible in said groove, lugs at the ends of said flange adapted to interlock With the slotted portion of the bottom of said channel, each of said lugs being shaped to interlock with the slotted portion, of said channel-when said flange is seated therein in either position. v

' 13. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and a chans nel formed at the other side thereof, the bottom of said channel being provided with a pair of slots, one of said slots being shaped to hold a lug fitted therein against circumferential movement, and the other of said slots having a portion adapted to hold a lug against circumferential movement, and a circumferentially offset portion adapted to permit a limited circumferential move ment of said lug therein, and a reversible tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel, said flange having a clencher groove in one side thereof, the other side of said flange being shaped to engage a stiaightsided tire, and identical lugs at the ends of said flange,' each of saidlugs being adapted to fit either of said slots.

14. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and havinga seat for a removable tire retaining flange at the other side thereof, aslot in the bottom of'said seat, a dust cap pivoted vto the inside of said rim and adapted to be swung into positions to cover said slot or to uncover the same, and a: tire-retaining flange mounted on said seat and provided with a lug projecting through said slot and into said dust cap when the same is moved to operative position. 7 5

15. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and having a. seat for a removable tire-retaining flange at the other side thereof, the bottom of said. seat being slotted, a transversely split tireretaining flange mounted in said seat and having lugs projecting through said slotted bottom, one of said lugs adapted to be locked or unlocked in the slot bya lateral movement, and a dust cap movably secured to the rim and acting when in operative position to prevent lateral movement of said lug. 16. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising. a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire and havin a channel formed at the other side thereo the bottom of said channel being provided with a rectangular slot and a slot having a Wide portion and a longitudinally offset portion and a shoulder 35, and a transversely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel and having lugs at the ends thereof, said lugs passing through said slots and projecting below the bottom of the channel, a dust cap adapted to be engaged withv said lugs when one of the same is engaged with the shoulder 35, and, acting to retain said lug in engagement with said shoulder,

and means for retaining said dust cap in position.

17. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and a channel at the other side thereof, the bottom of Said channel being slotted, a transversely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said-' channel and having lugs at its ends projecting through the slotted bottom of said channel, a dust cap adapted to receive the projecting ends of said lugs, and means for clamping said dust cap to said rim, said means being actuable to move said dust cap away from said rim and to permit these-me the channel, a rotatable screw carried bythe rim and projecting radially inward from the underside thereof, and a dust cap having a portion screwing on said screw,said .dust

cap'being adapted to cover the projecting ends of said lugs.

19. A tire-carrying rim for resilient tires V comprising a rim base having means at one side thereof for retaining a tire, and a channel at the other side thereof, the bottom of said channel being slotted, a transversely split tire-retaining flange mounted in said channel, said flange having lugs at its ends projecting through the slotted bottom of 20. In combination, a tire-carrying removable rim, and a pneumatic tire having a valve stem, said removable rim including a transversely split removable tire-retaining flange and locking means located atvthe point where said flange lS split for securing v the ends of said flange in position, said locking means and the valvestem of the tire being equal in weight and located at 2 0 diametrically opposite points.

' JAMES H. WAGENHORST.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,201,120, granted October 10, 1916, upon the application of James H. Wagenhorst, of Akron, Ohio, fox-.an improvement in Vehicle-Wheels and Rims Therefor," were erroneously issued to The United Rim Company, The B. F. Goodrich Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and The United States Tire Company, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to the inventor, said Waganhorst and The B. F. Goodrich Company, TheGoodyear Tire cf: Rubber Company, and The United States Tire Company, jointly, said Wagenhorst being owner of one-fifth interest in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may eonform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of November, A. D., 1916.

F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting C'ommiasimwr of Patents.

[sun] 

